Haunted Realm Paranormal Investigators

How did an ex journalist and ex headmaster and fully ordained Anglican Priest first become interested in the paranormal?

My interest in the paranormal began while I was still at school.  I found H.G.Wells and other similar writers in the school library and read avidly.  While still in my teens I thought -- does this exciting stuff have to be fiction?  I then decided to get out there and start looking with a Fortean approach: everything is worth investigating -- but be objective and scientific about it.  The journalism, teaching and ordination came later -- and the fascination with the paranormal never faded.

Can you remember your very first Investigation?

My first investigation back in the early fifties was a wood in North Tuddenham, Norfolk, where the ghost of a suicide was reported several times.  All we ever saw there were strange lights, but it was an interesting case

What investigation really got you excited?

Making a documentary for BBC Wales on the moving coffins in the Chase Elliott Vault in Barbados was a fascinating experience.  To actually stand in the vault, and to climb the steps up which one of the lead coffins had reportedly moved on its own was -- to say the least -- thought provoking!

If you hadn't had the career we know you for now, what do you think your chosen career would have been?

If possible, I would have read Medicine.  I think that being able to help and heal those whose health is less than perfect must be the most satisfying and rewarding work in the world.

Most of our older members will remember you most from your Fortean TV series for Channel 4, do you miss making those shows and what was your favourite mystery you investigated?

Yes, as a professional actor (full Equity member) I love making TV and radio shows.  If anyone needs a presenter for a new paranormal series I'd welcome an invitation.

 I would love to make a lot more series of Fortean TV.  I still ride a huge 1500 cc twin.

Do you still have time in your busy life to investigate and if so what was the last case you investigated?

My most recent cases tend to have centred around requests for exorcisms.  We help with these whenever requested.  As a pure piece of investigation we were up at Rockingham Castle a few weeks ago looking at the site where King John's ghost had been reported and had allegedly given a message about his lost treasure.  In one version it was lost in the Wash off King's Lynn in Norfolk. 

In the Rockingham version it was buried in the Castle grounds.  There is certainly a huge medieval iron chest still on display there which is associated with King John who stayed at the Castle in the thirteenth century.

You are well known for riding your Harley-Davidson and singing about one of your mysteries at the end of each show, do you still have the Harley and do you still love singing?

I changed the Harley for an even bigger and faster Kawasaki 1500 Drifter which gives me great pleasure.  I still love riding, and I still love writing and singing mystery songs.  There's a note about a CD of my songs on the website www.lionel-fanthorpe.com.

Yourself and Patricia have written over 250 books on all subjects of the paranormal does one case you have written about

stand out more then others?

The book we are working on now which will be out in Spring 2009 is called Mysteries and Secrets of Undiscovered Treasure and part of our research for it includes the missing treasure of Attila the Hun which is buried with him below a river bed on the borders of Hungary. 

Another case that we have written about on several occasions is the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau and the lost treasure of Father Berenger Sauniere.  The real mysteries there are far deeper and stranger than anything in Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code or in Holy Blood Holy Grail.  We have investigated Rennes in depth for close on thirty years and have only just scratched the surface of what's really there. 

The new film Bloodline (in which we have a small part!) has a lot to say about Rennes.  It's made by 1244 Films of Los Angeles and should be available on DVD.

Is there one case you are working on at the moment you can tell our readers about?

Our current work is the treasure book, and we are investigating some very mysterious pirates' treasures -- it's helpful that a number of the most colourful and intriguing pirates all came from Pembrokeshire -- which isn't too far from our base in Cardiff.

What are your plans for the future?

Plans for the future include more investigations into anything and everything anomalous and paranormal: more books, more radio, more TV shows, more tutoring, more management consultancy and PR work...No intention of ever retiring or slowing down.  Our motto is that life is for living --  we cram everything we can into every minute we've got -- and we love it!